Chapter 558: Earning Legitimate Side Income, Every Family Has Its Own Struggles

To achieve this, one must first overcome certain psychological barriers.

Everyone possesses independent thoughts; we’re not machines.

As long as we think for ourselves, selfishness, arrogance, and self-prioritization are inevitable. Even if logic suppresses these urges and we strive to fully cooperate with the chief surgeon, the effort often feels forced and unnatural.

And there are bound to be oversights.

For instance, when deliberately trying to please someone, you first feel wronged. Then, in many ways, your actions seem contrived, far from natural.

In minor details or unexpected situations, your thoughts easily lean toward your own interests.

Yet Director Hei is like a legendary angel, completely free of selfish or self-serving notions.

Once the surgery began, she devoted herself entirely to supporting Zhou Can, giving her all to assist him.

To put it dramatically, even if she and Zhou Can were complete strangers, she’d unhesitatingly sacrifice her life for him during the operation if needed.

It’s precisely because of her exceptional moral awareness that Zhou Can felt unusually at ease throughout the entire surgery.

Truly, he had no worries at all.

Being able to act freely during surgery with a senior anesthesiologist who’s completely dedicated to you—what’s that like? It’s akin to battling enemies on a battlefield while someone clears the path, defends you, and even takes bullets for you.

If he could work with such an anesthesiologist for major surgeries in the future, Zhou Can’s surgical skills would undoubtedly improve by at least twenty to thirty percent.

Sadly, Director Hei belongs to First Hospital, and the two of them don’t even work at the same institution.

“Dr. Zhou, you’ve worked hard tonight. Why don’t you come to my office for a bit? We can have some tea and rest,” Song Qian invited with a warm smile.

“It’s already quite late. Let’s save it for another day.”

Zhou Can politely declined her offer.

The surgery was a success, and the patient’s condition was well resolved, bringing joy to everyone involved.

The atmosphere was quite pleasant.

“My boss here is famously a devoted husband. He’s just eager to get home to his girlfriend!” Jiang Wei teased with a grin from the side.

“Oh really? These days, finding a successful man who’s loyal to his partner is like searching for a needle in a haystack! Dr. Zhou not only excels in surgery but also stays so dedicated to his girlfriend. That’s truly admirable. In that case, I won’t be the villain who keeps you here for tea.”

Song Qian gazed at Zhou Can with a hint of reverence in her eyes.

Being looked at with such respect by an elite woman of her status made Zhou Can feel quite pleased.

A gentleman carries virtue as his foundation.

When a man’s character reaches a certain height, it gives him depth, earning others’ respect.

“This is a small token of appreciation for the three of you who came to assist. Don’t think it’s too little; consider it a gesture to buy you a cup of tea. I’m truly grateful you could take time out of your busy schedules to help today. Thank you.”

Song Qian handed out three red envelopes, one to each of them.

Zhou Can’s envelope was the thickest, while Jiang Wei’s also had some heft, likely around a thousand or so.

Zhong Ming’s was the thinnest, and it was hard to guess how much was inside.

First Hospital, being a top-tier institution, had to offer generous compensation for consultations, especially for a tricky second surgery to clean up a mess. If the pay wasn’t substantial, it’d be tough to get help again in the future.

Since Jiang Wei facilitated the connection, an extra two or four hundred was reasonable.

Instrument nurses usually earned around four hundred for consultations, or six hundred if they were more senior. Anything higher would be a loss.

Hiring an in-house instrument nurse for surgery typically cost just thirty bucks as a stand-in fee.

For larger surgeries, it might go up to fifty.

The chief surgeon’s cut was a secret, but it was at least four to five times that of a nurse.

So First Hospital giving Jiang Wei a red envelope worth over a thousand was incredibly generous. At least four hundred of it was likely an extra thank-you for making the connection.

Zhong Ming, who only came along to learn, acted as Zhou Can’s assistant during the surgery. But First Hospital didn’t value his contribution much since they’d already prepared an assistant for Zhou Can.

In essence, they paid double for the same role.

Zhong Ming’s envelope probably held just two or three hundred bucks.

After all, giving only a hundred would be too embarrassing. It might not even cover someone’s travel expenses.

When Zhou Can accepted the red envelope, he made a few polite refusals out of courtesy.

Holding it in his hand, he could tell it was quite substantial, likely over two thousand.

“Qianqian, we’re heading out. See you later!”

Jiang Wei waved at her.

“Take care!”

Song Qian stood by the car, waving back.

Seeing the car Zhou Can drove, Song Qian didn’t show much of a reaction. Given the surgical skills he displayed tonight, even with a low rank, he could easily take on plenty of private gigs.

A single surgery could net him two thousand in hard-earned cash. Monthly gray income could reach tens of thousands.

Speaking of private gigs, there’s a curious phenomenon.

Doctors with exceptional skills, especially those great at surgery, are swamped with private work, their schedules overflowing with orders. Meanwhile, average doctors, even chief physicians, might only get two or three private jobs a month, which is considered pretty good.

Invitations to academic lectures by medical equipment manufacturers or border medicine dealers don’t fall into this category.

Those invitations are just a front for profit-sharing. Such transactions are legal and especially common abroad. Even high-ranking officials often accept nominal positions or speaking engagements from companies.

An ordinary professor might earn a few hundred dollars per lecture, while a retired high official could command over fifty thousand dollars for a single appearance. It’s not uncommon.

Bribery is a serious crime abroad, but paying through avenues like lecture invitations is entirely legal.

China has learned a thing or two, adopting similar methods for gray income.

“I’ll drive you two home. Dr. Zhong, where do you live?”

“I’m in Peach Blossom Garden Community on Jiangbei Avenue. If it’s not on your way, I can just take a cab back.”

Zhong Ming didn’t come to help for the money; his goal was to build a closer relationship with Zhou Can.

It was also a way to repay him.

“It’s tough to get a cab at night. I’ll drop you off. Jiang Wei, what about you?”

“I live in Century New City, Area B. It’s pretty far from here.”

She replied.

“Alright then, I’ll drop Dr. Zhong off first since it’s closer, then take you home.”

Their homes were in opposite directions, so he had to prioritize the nearer one.

“That’s fine by me.”

“Thanks.”

Both agreed without issue.

Zhou Can first drove Zhong Ming to the entrance of Peach Blossom Garden Community, then took Jiang Wei home.

Peach Blossom Garden is an old, rundown neighborhood, about a forty to fifty-minute drive from Tuyu Hospital. Zhong Ming, an associate chief physician at thirty-eight, bought a place in such a remote, outdated area. This reflects the real income level of ordinary doctors.

Of course, if he had money, he wouldn’t have been so easily poached by Third Hospital last time.

Most senior medical staff who get poached are skilled but short on cash.

Clinical doctors typically start earning decent money only after becoming associate chief physicians. That’s a significant turning point.

Resident doctors struggle at the bottom, barely scraping by. Attending physicians see a notable income boost, but it’s still just middle-tier.

Real substantial annual income comes after achieving the associate chief title.

At that point, you gain some authority and start building academic standing. Teaching at medical schools is common, and hospital pay jumps significantly compared to the attending level.

With multiple income streams combined, earnings become quite impressive.

Many doctors upgrade to bigger houses or cars two or three years after becoming associate chief physicians.

For male doctors, infidelity or even swapping spouses often starts around this time too.

Money corrupts, and that’s the truest depiction of many men.

After Zhong Ming got out of the car, only Zhou Can and Jiang Wei remained. For a moment, the atmosphere grew a bit heavy.

“Did you buy your place in Century New City?”

Zhou Can broke the silence.

Being alone in a confined space as a man and a woman, prolonged silence could lead to awkwardness or even a suggestive vibe.

Neither was what Zhou Can wanted.

“I bought it with a loan. It’s pretty small.”

She said with a tinge of bitterness.

“Being so young and already owning a place is impressive! Most young people buy with loans, and many drain six wallets just for the down payment. You’ve already outdone over ninety percent of your peers.”

Zhou Can believed houses or cars didn’t define a person.

When you’re young, focusing on education and honing skills matters most.

With her talent, buying a villa in the future wouldn’t be a problem.

“Thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes I feel like such a failure.” Her voice still carried that bitter edge.

“You’re not a failure at all. In fact, you’re incredibly successful. I’m not just saying this to comfort you; it’s the truth. To be so young with such high expertise and education, plus outstanding ability—you’re already exceptional. I’m nowhere near your level.”

Zhou Can couldn’t understand why she felt this way.

Logically, with her education, she should have broad perspectives and clear life goals.

She should understand life planning and aspirations.

Not even thirty yet, there’s no need to compare wealth with others. With talent and education, earning money isn’t a concern, right?

“You’re still trying to comfort me! You’re the most outstanding young doctor I’ve ever met. Your surgical and diagnostic skills rival those of veteran professors in their fifties or sixties. Pharmacology might be a weaker area, but your progress is astonishingly fast. In today’s surgery, the medical instructions you gave, especially the use of certain antibiotics, truly impressed me.”

Her tone now felt different from their usual work interactions.

It seemed more genuine.

This was also the first time she pointed out Zhou Can’s weaker pharmacology skills.

This woman was remarkable. In just a day or two of working with Zhou Can, she’d observed his strengths and weaknesses but kept quiet until now.

Moreover, Zhou Can’s pharmacological reasoning had recently advanced to level six, a highly confidential matter.

Yet she keenly noticed his significant improvement.

Her ability to spot this meant her own skills were likely at a comparable level.

Still, her pharmacology was indeed impressive.

Reaching level six was entirely plausible for her.

This also highlighted a truth: there are many paths to success.

For someone so young to reach level six in pharmacological reasoning, it couldn’t solely be from clinical experience.

It showed that studying and learning could rapidly enhance medical skills too.

Zhou Can wasn’t sure about foreign teaching models.

For her to achieve level six in pharmacological reasoning before thirty, beyond rigorous study in Chinese medical schools, it must also tie to knowledge and experience gained while studying abroad.

“Jiang Wei, are you satisfied with your current compensation? Do you feel it’s too low?”

Zhou Can asked her.

Since he was driving, he couldn’t see her expression.

Checking on a female colleague in the backseat through the rearview mirror felt impolite.

It could easily make someone uneasy.

“I’m quite satisfied! Working surgeries with you feels fulfilling. Every day I sense my knowledge growing, my experience building, and my skills sharpening. Income-wise, it’s already pretty good. For nursing talent, even at Zhongyuan Affiliated Hospital, my monthly salary would be around twenty thousand.”

Unlike doctors, nurses hit an income ceiling where raises become tough.

A nurse earning twenty-five thousand a month is already at the top tier in any hospital in China.

With her education, she could also teach or do research, earning extra income.

Overall though, it still couldn’t compare to a doctor’s earnings.

Especially someone like Zhou Can, a prodigy for whom education was just a piece of paper. Third Hospital directly offered him a five-million annual salary to poach him, and they meant business.

One year’s income for him equaled over a decade of a senior nurse’s earnings.

“Do you have high material aspirations?”

Zhou Can asked.

“Not really! For clothes, affordable brands are fine. If they’re too cheap, it affects my image and health. As for food, I’m not picky—clean and healthy is my priority. I don’t crave lavish meals or delicacies. My home doesn’t need to be huge; cozy is enough. But you know, nine out of ten women are vain, and the tenth just varies in degree.”

“Seeing others drive fancy cars, carry designer bags, or wear watches worth hundreds of thousands, it’s impossible not to feel a gap.”

She was candid, speaking openly about these things.

“Haha, you’re quite straightforward! If you’re willing to stick with me long-term, I can’t make grand promises, but in five years, reaching a million in annual income shouldn’t be an issue.”

For the first time, Zhou Can realized he needed to secure better earnings for his team of doctors and nurses.

Behind them were families and all sorts of expenses.

Everyone wanted a better life.

If income didn’t meet their needs, even the highest enthusiasm would eventually fade.

To boost his team’s earnings, exploiting patients for money was out of the question. Zhou Can wasn’t that kind of person.

The only way forward was to tackle complex conditions, specialize in major surgeries, and take on high-difficulty cases.